BackgroundWhat is Sustainable Forestry?

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Definition

• Those forestry practices that meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Definition

• Specifically, integrates the regeneration, growing, nurturing, and harvesting of trees for useful products while conserving soil, air, water quality, wildlife, plants, aquatic habitat, and landscape aesthetic quality.

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Certification

• 3rd party voluntary process to recognize sustainably-managed forests

• Tool to foster forest stewardship

• The Pinchot Institute for Conservation

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Certification

• Sustainable Forestry Initiative

www.sfiprogram.org

• American Tree Farm System

www.treefarmsystem.org

• Forest Stewardship Council

www.fscus.org

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Practice 1

• Forest Management Planning

– Determine what you have

– Set long-term goals and objectives

– Schedule activities

– Regularly review and revise management practices

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Resources

• Forest Management Plan

– Stewardship Plan

• Virginia Department of Forestry

• Consulting forester

– Tree Farm Plan

– Conservation Activity Plan

• Consulting forester (cost share available)

– Wildlife Management Plan

• Department of Game & Inland Fisheries

– Forest Industry Landowner Assistance Programs

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Practice 2

• Forest Health & Productivity

– Prompt reforestation

– Species selection

– Soil protection

– Forest protection

• Wildfire, exotics, diseases

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Resources

• Virginia Department of Forestry

– Area foresters

– Seedling nursery

– www.dof.virginia.gov

• Cost share programs

– Reforestation of

Timberlands program

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Resources

• A Field Guide for the Identification of Invasive Plants in Southern Forests

• Virginia Forest Landowner Update

• Virginia Natural Heritage Program

• Virginia Native Plant Society

• USDA Forest Service

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Practice 3

• Protect and maintain water resources

– Best Management Practices

– Riparian buffer zones

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Resources

• Riparian Buffer Tax Credit

• Best Management Practices

• On-line Learning from Virginia’s Link to Education About Forestry (VALEAF) Program

– Laws Affecting Water Quality and Forestry Operations in Virginia

– Protecting Water Quality with Best Management Practices in Virginia

– Free!

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Practice 4

• Conserve Biological Diversity

– Promote native diversity

– Sound wildlife habitat management

– Protect T & E species

– Protect Forests of Exceptional Conservation Value

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Resources

• Guide to threatened and endangered species on private lands in Virginia

• Natural Heritage Program

• Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries

– Regional biologist

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Practice 5

• Manage visual quality

– Manage impact of harvesting on visual quality

– Manage shape, size and placement of clearcuts

– Green-up requirement

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Practice 6

• Protect special sites

– Identify and manage unique habitats

– Cemeteries

– Historic sites

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Resources

• Natural Heritage Program

• Environmental Protection Agency

• The Nature Conservancy

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Practice 7

• Efficient use of forest resources

– Minimize waste

– Efficient utilization of harvested materials

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Resources

• VFELP

• Professional forester

– Virginia Department of Forestry

– Association of Consulting Foresters

– Society of American Foresters

• Timber sale contract

• Reputable logger

Virginia Forest Landowner EducationHelping Virginians Keep Their Woodlands Healthy and Productive

Real Forestry for Real Estate

Virginia Forest Landowner Education Helping Virginians Keep Their Forests Healthy & Productive

www.cnre.vt.edu/forestupdate